Well, not immediate - there are Myself, My Fiance and my always hungry teenaged Son, but want to try and grow a variety of veggies, enough for our own household and maybe some extra's for extended family. Also going to be learning how to can and preserve from my mom, so... hopefully, if all goes well, I'll have plenty to share ::)

I have had extremely good luck with broccoli and greens during the winter. Tomatoes do well also if planted early enough to be picked before frost. Sweet potatoes did very well.
I have better luck with fall gardens than I do summer and its more pleassant to be out there weeding during the winter than heat of summer. Forgot to mention okra. Had tons one winter and still have some in freezer.

Was thinking about okra, but I'm the only one in the house that eats it (one New Jersey Native Fiancee who just ain't got the hang of good ole southern grub , and one teenager whose tastes change with the wind it seems, psssht, kids these days!) so not sure if I should plant it or not, LOL

Know what you mean. I'm orginally from CT. and had never eaten oka but now I love it fried and battered. I plant whatever I particularly like and freeze it in small bags.
Just my husb. and I but our kids, grandkids, greatgrands never refuse to take home some vegies.
Oh brussell sprouts are another one that did well last winter.

Florida climates throw everything for a loop. I usually do a major planting after the last frost date - mid/late feb. Here in Orlando, we plant peas, beans, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes mustard/collard greens. Brocolli springs up from seeds I leave in the dirt each year around now.

Carrots are a pain unless you've got really well tilled soil. We've tried Kolrahbi, turnips and asparagus which were all busts.

if you're just starting out, stick to peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers and some "wild greens" types of lettuce/collard greens. They're the most forgiving. If you buy already grown plants and get them in the ground this W/E you should be pretty well on track.

Well, I've narrowed it down to Tomato, Pepper, Pole Beans, Peas and possibly okra (tho Ive been told that's a summer crop?). Family are not big lettuce eaters here, so thinking it probably wouldn't be worth the time to grow it because it would only go to waste.

Now, am planning to grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. Is this a good idea? would they be better off in raised beds, or does it make a difference?

Ive already got tomatoes that have begun to set fruit. I was wondering about the 5 gallon buckets for the Fall crop :) my current tomatoes have been in since end of beginning of March, and are currently already producing fruit...YAY!